Settlement in death of baby born at Cavan General

The family of an infant who died two days after being delivered at Cavan General Hospital have secured €70,000 in settlement of their action against the HSE.

Francis Flynn and his wife Fiona Watters sued the HSE for the mental distress and shock they suffered following the death of their son Jamie, born at Cavan Hospital on November 22, 2012.

Liability in the action was admitted by the HSE back in July 2014.

The action was briefly mentioned before Mr Justice Richard Humphreys at the High Court today, Monday, November 30, who approved the settlement.

Baby Jamie's parents, with an address at Tara Court Square, Navan, Co Meath brought proceedings against the HSE arising out of what they described as the “traumatic circumstances” of their son's birth.

Jamie was delivered by cesarean section. However, he had no heartbeat or breath reflex. He was resuscitated by medical staff and transferred to the intensive care unit of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin where he died two days later.

Lawyers for the family said the protracted hearing of an inquest into baby Jamie's death also added to their distress.

The couple were present in court for the ruling.

The death of baby Jamie subject of an investigation by the HSE, the first report of which was the subject of a High Court injunction, with the consultant involved, Dr Salah Abdel-Aziz Ahmed, “completely vindicated” in the assertion correct procedures were not complied with in its publication.

An inquest last year returned a verdict of medical misadventure in baby Jamie's death.

See this week's newspaper for full report...